Airline Reservations

If you plan to fly your port of embarkation, you must decide whether to arrange airline tickets on your own or use the AIR/SEA program offered by the cruise line. Here are the main considerations to help you with your decision.

Many cruises to Costa Rica depart from a U.S. port, such as Fort Lauderdale, but some depart from international ports, such as ports in Central America.

Flights from the U.S. to Central America will require passports and you will be required to go through customs.

When flying from the East Coast of the U.S. to Central America, you can expect to gain time on your flight from the East Coast to Central America and lose time on your flight home due to the change in time zones.

When flying from the West Coast or Central U.S. to Central America, you may not change time zones.

When flying the day of departure, try to book non-stop flights.

Allow for sufficient connecting time if a connection is required.

Choose an air carrier with a hub in your region.

Consider flying in a day prior. In some cases you'll need to fly a long distance to reach your port of departure. Arriving at the port city at least one or two days in advance of your cruise will give you time to rest and get oriented before boarding the ship. Most cruise lines offer pre-cruise hotel packages.

Purchasing transfers through the cruise line is recommended. They are often more convenient and cost-effective than a taxi.

Purchasing travel insurance is recommended. Be sure to read the insurance policy thoroughly and check for any flight-related restrictions.

Advantages of Arranging Your Own Airline Tickets

The main advantages of securing your own airline tickets are that you will be able to select the airline you fly and you will have some control over the timing and routing of your flights. You may wish to fly a particular airline to use frequent flier rewards, or to earn frequent flier miles, or because that carrier has nonstop service to your port city. If you arrange your own airline tickets you will have more control over these variables than if you utilize the cruise line's AIR/SEA program.

Advantages of Using the AIR/SEA Program

The main reasons to let us book your air at the same time you reserve your Costa Rica cruise - through the cruise line's AIR/SEA department - are convenience, better access to flights that make easy connections to your ship, and added protection in the event of a flight or sailing delay or cancellation.

Cruise lines meet their AIR/SEA passengers at the airport and transport them to the pier. These transfers are frequently free of charge, but even if a charge is levied it is typically less than what you would pay if you arranged your own transfers.

Cruise lines monitor the status of flights carrying their AIR/SEA passengers, and will sometimes hold a ship past its scheduled departure time to wait for guests arriving on a delayed flight, but only if that flight was booked through the cruise line.

Cruise lines reserve large blocks of seats on flights that make easy connections to their departing and returning cruise ships. These flights traditionally experience high load factors and you could have difficulty getting a low fare - or a seat at any price - as an individual. On busy days like Saturday and Sunday, you might have to fly in a day early if you book your own tickets, adding a day's meals and lodging to your cost.

And finally, sometimes unexpected things occur that affect travel plans. Flight delays or cancellations, changes in cruise ship arrival or departure times, and cancellation of sailings altogether, are some of the things that can force you to rebook at a later time or date or seek a refund for your airline tickets. If any of these things should happen before or during your vacation, you will not be eligible for assistance from the cruise line if you arranged your own airline tickets. However, if we secure your tickets through the cruise line's AIR/SEA program, some cruise lines will assist you in working with the airline to make alternate flight plans, help you catch up with your ship at the next port, or apply for a refund. Your cruise counselor will verify the details of each cruise line’s AIR/SEA program at the time of booking.

The bottom line: Ask your Vacations To Go cruise counselor to quote air
from the cruise line and compare that rate to the best rate you can find calling
airlines directly. If the rates are close, you're probably better off letting
us book your airline tickets through the AIR/SEA program.